Bournemouth's James Hill earns maiden England call-up

Bournemouth defender James Hill has received his first senior international call-up for England. The 24-year-old centre-back has been drafted into Thomas Tuchel’s squad as injury cover for Arsenal’s Ezri Konsa ahead of the upcoming Nations League fixture against Croatia at Wembley.

Defensive reshuffle for Tuchel

Konsa was forced out of contention after suffering a knee injury during the Champions League victory over Slavia Prague last Wednesday. Although he managed to complete the full match against Hull City on Saturday, he will now focus on his recovery before potentially returning for the game against Spain.

Hill’s inclusion follows a period of consistent form for Bournemouth, who currently sit seventh in the Premier League. The defender has been an ever-present figure for his club this season, playing every minute of their league campaign and featuring in all of their Europa League matches.

This promotion to the senior squad marks a significant milestone for the former Under-20 and Under-21 international. Hill joined Bournemouth from Fleetwood in January 2022 and has since established himself as a key component of the team's defensive setup.